Keen interest in vacant coaching job: FFA

Top-line coaches have inquired about becoming the next coach of Australia with the job soon to be vacated by Guus Hiddink, Football Federation Australia said.

Hiddink, who has inspired the Socceroos into the last 16 at the World Cup, leaves after the tournament to take up a lucrative contract to head up the Russian national team.

But Australia's impressive performances in Germany against higher-ranked teams have dramatically increased interest from leading coaches to continue the football revolution Down Under.

With several World Cup coaches likely to be out of work after the tournament, FFA chief executive John O'Neill said there was no shortage of applicants for what has become one of world football's more appealing jobs.

"I've had some expressions of interest since I've been here from some fairly big names," Mr O'Neill told reporters ahead of Australia's second round match with Italy in Kaiserslautern.

"We wouldn't have got it a year ago. It's a reflection of the fact we've never been on this stage.

"You'd argue we'd be in the top 16 teams in the world now. We beat Japan who are ranked 18th, drew with Croatia who are 23 and we could have drawn with Brazil who are ranked number one.

"We need another Guus Hiddink. What a difference he's made and the further we go in this tournament, quite reputable coaches are approaching us."

Among those speculated for the Aussie job have been Frenchman Gerard Houllier and Carlos Bilardo of Argentina.

The FFA want someone prepared to spend six months of the year in Australia during the domestic A-League season, willing to work on an incentive-based contract, and willing to coach coaches and revamp the country's entire coaching system.

Australia is likely to pay the new head coach up to $4 million a year and make the contract heavily incentive-based.

"We'd like to aim for someone who really wants to do it, at a price that's affordable for us, and as we have with Guus, incentive-based on success," Mr O'Neill said.

"We've got to get the right person whose got the football nous, and the cultural compatibility with Australia, and the desire to take us on to the next level.

"We don't want anyone who's thinking about semi-retirement. You don't want the Socceroos coach to be sitting up in splendid isolation from the rest of the organisation."

Assistant Graham Arnold, who will not get the full-time job, remains under contract until 2008 as he guides the Australian Olympic team towards Beijing.

"Graham will be interim coach until we make a full-time appointment," Mr O'Neill said.